SWAPA oppose cuts to key safety program

The Southwest Airlines Pilots’ Association (SWAPA) has called on Congress to oppose efforts to eliminate funding for the Federal Flight Deck Officer (FFDO) program, which has been proposed to be eliminated in President Obama’s fiscal year 2014 budget. “While it is unlikely that the President’s budget will be adopted as written, any attempts to defund an effective, cost-efficient program should be flatly rejected by Congress,” said Mark Richardson, SWAPA President. “Our union and pilots will continue to make the case that this is simply one of the best federal programs to protect passengers, pilots and staff, and the general public